Doughboy

Doughboy

Doughboy

Shifts in scale abound in Peter Drake’s studio.  The small toy figures he often paints from are no more than a wee, few inches high. His painting Four Riders, birthed from such few inches is close to 10 x 12 feet. Steamer, less commanding of ones attention to size at 52” x 42”, is similarly rendered from observation of a toy ship. That the toys are from Drake’s father’s collection does not inevitably invoke a sense of lament or dirge. Such is present no doubt. But in truth Drakes mournful, and curious, glance is as much toward atrophied cultural moments as it is toward personal reminiscence. It is the culture of play and how play installs representations of cultures that intrigues and cajoles his glance. In both his videos and paintings soldiers tote weapons from one culture to another raising scimitars above mortars, while the metallic chips, flaws and casting seams scrutinized in extreme close up evince the ravages of family history as much as any war.

Currently Drake is at work on a large-scale mural for the MTA Arts For Transit, to be installed at the LIRR Massapequa Station summer of 2014. The site-specific public art project features 18 glass windows and 5 ceramic/glass mosaics throughout the train station measuring 436 square feet of artwork.

More images of Drake’s work can be seen at: http://lindawarrenprojects.com/ or http://www.peterdrakeartist.com/

MTA Commission